Himsworth Scott has advised Aston Villa and U19 Ireland International Jake Doyle-Hayes in relation to the publication by Irish state broadcaster RTÉ of a damaging article concerning him. As part of a negotiated settlement, RTÉ has agreed to apologise to Mr Doyle Hayes and to make payment of a sum of damages.

Steven Hudson, the Himsworth Scott lawyer who worked alongside Aston Villa on securing this result said:
“The damaging article was a very modern problem. The original RTÉ piece had been a simple transfer news story but, owing to some third party input, the mobile version of the article was vandalised and some absurd and distressing comments were added to the piece. The result was that the amended article went viral causing significant and unnecessary embarrassment.

“Following our complaint RTÉ have taken swift action and we are pleased to be able to agree the apology which has been published today and also pleased that Jake, showing great maturity, had insisted that part of the settlement included a significant charitable contribution to Birmingham’s Homeless Heroes, which will be paid to the charity in the coming days.”

The apology published by the RTÉ today said:

“On 31 January 2019 RTÉ published an article concerning Aston Villa and U19 Ireland International Jake Doyle-Hayes’ transfer on loan from Aston Villa Football Club to Cambridge United Football Club.

“Unbeknown to us, a mobile version of that article had been vandalised by the inclusion of a rogue sentence which did not bear any relation whatsoever to Mr Doyle-Hayes.

“The fact that this happened is highly regrettable and we apologise unreservedly to Mr Doyle-Hayes for the embarrassment and distress that this has caused, both to him and his family.”

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Notes to editors

Himsworth Scott is a leading reputation law firm based in Mayfair, acting around the world